WYPR's Fraser Smith and Alison Knezevich of the Baltimore Sun talk about contributions from developers--and from Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz--to a campaign fund that can be used to benefit members of a particular candidate "slate."

Maryland’s increasingly contentious gubernatorial race got more negative Thursday when the top two Democratic candidates released tit-for-tat attack ads bashing each other. Campaign finance reports filed earlier this week show candidates with money to burn as the primary approaches.

With the primary election four weeks from tomorrow, we’re talking this week with the two Democratic candidates for Baltimore City State’s Attorney. This morning, Sheilah Kast is joined by the incumbent State’s Attorney, Gregg Bernstein, who was elected four years ago and is running for reelection.

Over the next few months, Maryland voters will decide who will replace Gov. Martin O'Malley in the governor’s mansion. From the state’s energy future to the struggle to create quality jobs, the next governor will make key decisions on a range of issues facing the Free State.WYPR asked all of the Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidates to respond to five questions the next governor will confront.

Maryland’s primary election will take place June 24. Early voting begins June 12 and ends June 19. The general election will take place November 4.

Click on the candidate's name to read their response.

1) What is the most important issue the next governor of Maryland will deal with in his/her first term?

Larry Hogan, Del. Ron George and Harford County Executive David Craig are all hoping to win the Republican gubernatorial nomination next month, and they're all hoping to get public campaign finance funds to do it. Larry Hogan, a former Ehrlich cabinet member and founder of Change Maryland, announced Wednesday that he is the first to cross the fundraising threshold to qualify for the $2.6 million in public funds.